I took a step outside my comfort zone and purchased a motorcycle.
Until this spring, I had never rode a motorcycle as a passenger, let alone operate one.
Despite that, I have several family members with motorcycles. My dad purchased a Yamaha V-Star a few years ago, my uncle has another Yamaha cruiser and a couple of my cousins regularly ride Harley-Davidson bikes.
Although I was never interested in motorcycles or the “biker” culture, there were some advantages to owning a motorcycle. Mainly — as many people ride bikes for — it’s to break up the monotony of driving a car to work or around. It’s nice to break it up, or have a way to experience nice days traversing country roads.
One practical benefit of motorcycling is fuel economy. My car, a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, averages 30-32 miles per gallon here in rural Missouri. While that’s great, a motorcycle can far exceed that.
It can also be nice to have a second vehicle as a backup in case the Cruze is out of service, or to avoid/”offset” wear and tear on the car.
The problem, however, was I didn’t know how to ride a motorcycle.
After some studying, I passed the written test to receive my motorcycle learning permit. Most states, including Missouri, use materials prepared by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
The practical learning was the trickiest part, as I was never familiar with the controls found on a motorcycle. Unlike automobiles, you don’t typically see what a rider is doing with braking, clutch, shifter, etc. I also had no prior experience to operating a vehicle with a manual transmission, so I was unfamiliar with shifting and the friction zone.
My first attempt to ride a motorcycle, in a private empty parking lot with lots of room, was on my dad’s Yamaha V-Star. Being unfamiliar with the controls and proper throttle techniques, I “whisky throttled” it and forgot all about the clutch. Thankfully, I knew to operate the brakes and cut the engine shutoff.
Despite a scary first experience, I was determined to learn. Another issue was my dad’s bike — a big heavy 1300cc cruiser that weighs around 800 pounds dry — didn’t fit me and was too much power for a complete newbie.
I started searching for used smaller motorcycles for sale in my area, but couldn’t find any that fit my needs, was in decent condition or well priced. Most were dirt bikes and off-road “yard” bikes. I wanted an actual motorcycle, something I could actually ride on roads and commute with.
I went to the local dealership with my dad to look at a 250cc Suzuki they had for sale, but it was in servicing. Looking at their new inventory, I came across a 2023 Honda Rebel 300 that I really like. I straddled it and it fit me nearly perfectly.
After much temptation, thinking and a couple nights of sleeping on it, I looked more into buying the Rebel 300. However, my dad warned me that it’d be outgrown in no time, and that I should consider the Rebel 500.
The bike
A day or two later, I signed the papers and brought home the 2023 Honda Rebel 500 ABS.
In addition to wanting to learn on a smaller bike, there were a couple things that appealed to me about the Rebel 500. First, it has anti-lock brakes. Second, it has a 500cc engine that isn’t overly powerful but has enough speed to easily handle 70-75 miles per hour for interstates and major highways. It has a six-speed transmission, which uses a chain-drive mechanism to propel the rear wheel.
Getting a new bike also meant less potential issues and headaches later on. I’ve heard of many people who bought used bikes to learn it wasn’t safe to operate (failed rear brakes, deteriorating hoses or wiring, or even a cracked frame) or serviced by a “hack” instead of professionally. As with cars, used bikes can be a tricky game of rolling the dice — sometimes you get a great deal that turns out to be well worth it (i.e. my old Buick) or you get stuck with a anxiety-producing money pit that might also kill you.
The Rebel 500 is a very popular beginner bike, and it’s easy for me to see why. It isn’t too small to be useless on streets and roads, but is still very easily maneuverable for most people and very light. It is a standard motorcycle that will get you from point A to point B, reliably and affordably. As with the other “big four” Japanese manufacturers (the others being Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki), Honda is pretty reputable for making reliable products that can run and run if well maintained.
Because of it being a beginner bike with a beginner price (just over $8,000 out the door in my experience, with no miles at all on the odometer), it lacks much of the “creature comforts” you’ll find on more expensive bikes. There is no passenger/rear seat, and the stock seat does become a little uncomfortable after a while. (After all, it’s not a cruiser or touring bike.) A lot of things — windshield, saddlebags, 12-volt power outlet, etc. — are aftermarket options, none of which I got.
As of writing this I’ve purchased an engine guard that will protect the engine and other components from impacts should the bike be dropped while stopped. I’m also looking to purchase a cell phone mount, allowing me to use my phone for navigation. (I’ve also been tracking my rides using Rever, an app similar to Strava but for motorcyclists. It has an included map and can even allow you to pre-plan routes, but many advanced features are locked under premium subscriptions.)
Learning on the Rebel 500 was day and night compared to my father’s 1300cc V-Star. No longer was even getting on the bike cumbersome, and I picked riding up very quickly. I started out slow after watching some YouTube tutorials, “power-walking” around a parking lot. From there I picked up my feet, then gave a little throttle. Once comfortable, I progressed onto our street — and eventually started out in our rural community.
Since, I’ve accumulated more than 2,000 miles of experience — all ridden on the Rebel 500. Knock on wood I haven’t had any issues.
MSF Basic Rider Course
After my disappointing first attempt on my dad’s bike, I signed up for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Rider Course. Unfortunately, the classes are limited in my state — requiring me to either drive a bit (140+ miles) or wait until late August for a class somewhat closer (60 miles).
I chose the former, attending a two-day course held at Worth Harley-Davidson in Kansas City, Missouri. Almost all courses in my area were held by Harley-Davidson dealerships, and Worth was the only one that had an opening earlier in the summer.
Even after teaching myself to ride and becoming confident, I wanted to sharpen those skills to be the safest I can possibly be. While I liken motorcycling to bicycling in many ways, one requires far more skill and attention — and is far more likely to kill you.
Every time you ride a motorcycle you are taking a risk: You may not make it home or to your destination. However, I countered this point mentally with the risk still being true with an automobile, bus, train, plane, boat, bicycle or even walking.
Of those, motorcycling still presents the greatest risk because you are exposed and vulnerable. There is no metal or “padding” to protect you from an impact. You don’t have four wheels to keep you stable. Many motorists don’t see motorcyclists, putting anyone on two wheels in a vulnerable position where their heads must be on a swivel.
The Basic Rider Course starts with the very basics, as it is designed for a complete newbie — like myself just weeks prior — who had never touched a motorcycle before. Just as I did on my very first ride with the Rebel, we power-walked our bikes across the lot before slowly letting our feet up and giving it some gas. However, from there it quickly progressed into shifting, braking and cornering.
The class continued even as a surprise thunderstorm rolled through, soaking everyone. I’ve only had experience with very light rain, never constant downpours. After an hour I was drenched head to toe with water gushing out of my boots.
On the second morning (thankfully nice and sunny after the gloomy first day) we continued practicing the basics while adding in swerving, U-turns and more. That afternoon we completed a skills evaluation, which covered everything practiced throughout the past 36 hours.
I learned a lot in the course, including the proper way of doing things I had developed bad habits for. The instructors were friendly, credible (both had 30+ years of motorcycling experience) and eager to help everyone. The class is pricey ($350), but well worth it. In addition to the knowledge you gain, the class can also waive a “standard” motorcycle licensing exam (at least here in Missouri) and score you an insurance discount.
However, I got another benefit from the class. Because I took it through a Harley-Davidson dealer, I got to experience Harley-Davidson’s rival to my Rebel 500: The Street 500.
Honda vs. Harley
If I had to pick one, I’d still take my Honda Rebel 500 over Harley-Davidson’s Street 500.
The Rebel has a lot of things the Harley didn’t have. For instance, just on the information display, the Street 500 used in the rider course only displayed speed and odometer. My Rebel has that too, in addition to a fuel “gauge,” clock, estimated fuel economy and gear indicator.
I’ve heard so many tales of Harley-Davidson bikes costing more than their Japanese counterparts to maintain. In addition to having a cult-like following akin to Apple, in some cases you must go through a H-D dealer to have your bike serviced akin to Tesla.
There were a couple benefits to the Street 500. The shift lever isn’t as uncomfortable, but I’ve grown used to the positioning on my Rebel 500. (Both have mid controls.) The Street 500 also has a larger fuel tank — 3.5 gallons versus 3 gallons.
Both bikes are very similar, though, and it seemed the Street 500 would be the perfect beginner for someone dead set on getting a Harley. While the model has been discontinued, many used models are readily available through Harley-Davidson dealerships for less than a new Rebel. It seems all Harley-Davidson dealerships also use the Street 500 for the training courses, allowing people to get a feel for the bike before making the purchase.
I’ve already gone on a few day trips around the region using the Rebel 500, once revisiting my “stomping grounds,” including a return to the Slater AT&T Long Lines site. One thing I wanted to do with the motorcycle was visit more former AT&T Long Lines sites, many of which haven’t been publicly documented, to post here. (Although I don’t plan to take the Rebel for this trip due to the lack of storage, I am hoping to finally take a trip to Kewanee, Illinois — more than a decade after putting it on my “bucket list” and promising to do it. However, the Rebel helps save me wear-and-tear and gas for my car.)
It took me going beyond my comfort zone a bit, but after a while I gained confidence. Since learning, I’ve been riding the Rebel daily for my commute, at least when the weather allows. I have a long way to go skills-wise, but learning to ride a motorcycle truly has been as fun as others say it is.